Robert Wonsick

Robert Thomas Wonsick of Hickory, NC passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from complications of leukemia. He was 68 years old.

Born in St. Petersburg, FL he was the eldest son of Robert Lewis Wonsick and Marilyn Colette Murphy. He was raised in a large (and somewhat infamous) family in Gulfport. He attended Bishop Barry High School (now St. Pete Catholic) and St. Petersburg Junior College. In 1978, he married his wife of 45 years, Anne Welch, at St. Jude Cathedral. They had two daughters, and in 1996, relocated to Hickory to further his career in ground shipping operations and the transportation industry.

Known to most as “Bob”, to many as “Uncle Bobby”, and “Bubba” to select friends and family, his favorite titles were that of Dad and Papa. His life and personality would be impossible to reduce to a few paragraphs; however, he enjoyed playing baseball, softball, tennis, golf, sailing, and bowling. He prided himself on having attended many major sporting events and collected countless autographs over the years.

He was hardworking, creative, generous, funny, and stubborn to the end. He excelled at word puzzles, witty remarks, and there was seemingly nothing he couldn’t fix with a DIY solution after extensive “R&D” (research and development). In retirement, his hobbies continued to include golf, even traveling to Scotland to play at St. Andrews and working part time at Lake Hickory Country Club. He preferred splitting his time between Hickory in the summer and St. Pete (Pasadena) in the winter with his wife and adoring golden retriever. Over the past four years, he most enjoyed spending time with his grandson.

Robert is survived by wife Anne Welch Wonsick, daughters Allison Gabriel (Wilson) and Alyssa Wonsick (Ty Martin), beloved grandson Orland Gabriel, nine siblings, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He will be missed tremendously.

The family would like to thank the staff and professionals at Catawba Valley Medical Center, Levine Cancer Center, Atrium Carolinas Medical Center, and Duke University Medical Center, where Bob fearlessly participated in a clinical trial study, hoping to advance treatment and a cure for his particularly aggressive and rare form of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with erythroid differentiation.

Memorial service plans are pending and will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society .

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net. The Wonsick family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-855-3350.